Well, this one’s been a while coming. Chatter around the Bad Books kicked off shortly after Michael Morrison (guitar; ex-Come on Gang!) and Graeme Anderson (vocals, synths, guitar; ex-Kays Lavelle) signed up for a pub gig in Leith months ago, but have remained defiantly under the radar, even refusing to pop any music up online. Well, until now, but don’t worry we’ll get to that.
So we were delighted to see an advertised gig earlier this year surface through the usual channels with Cancel the Astronauts and Fuzzystar also on the bill. It was an absolutely blinding night, with the Bad Books the pick of the bunch. So much so that they were pretty much signed up to play Tidal Wave 3 on the spot.
Their punchy brand of melodic indie rock sounded much more polished than a band with only a handful of gigs under their belt had any right to. Time has clearly been spent on the songs, Anderson is a charismatic and charming frontman and despite their claims of consistently avoiding practice, they’re tight as the proverbial insect’s sphincter muscle.
So then, to Tidal Wave 3, taking place at Edinburgh’s Wee Red Bar on the 23rd of this month (but you knew that because you’re already coming aren’t you?). The Bad Books play their first headline set with Loch Awe, The Spook School and The New Fabian Society completing an absolute beezer of a line-up.
Did we speak to them? Yes we did!
So who the hell are you?
Michael Morrison: We are Michael, Graeme, Andrew (Brodie – drums) and Scott (Finnigan – bass/vocals) - four music loving boys.
Describe your sound in ten words or less?
Graeme Anderson: Space Pop with a twist of anger!
MM: That’s a pretty good definition actually! Or ‘Anger Pop with a bit of space…’
How did you guys begin making music together?
GA: I had an offer from our pal Andy Tucker of performing a wee solo slot at Nobles and when writing some tunes for the evening, thought they would sound better with a full band. I managed to rope in Michael and Scott to play too, then Michael roped in Andrew and The Bad Books were born. We gelled surprisingly fast and had an absolute hoot at nobles that evening. We pushed on and have been writing, playing gigs and avoiding practises since.
MM: Graeme plied me with drink until it seemed like a good idea. He was right though, it was a good idea.
Are these fresh tunes or was anything brewing before Come on Gang! or the Kays Lavelle folded?
GA: A couple of tunes are ones that I have had tucked away for a bit but they needed a fresh input and a bit of inspiration, which the rest of the band have in bucketloads. Recently we have managed to get a few tunes written during practise. Michael and Scott are really creative and Andrew seems to add that bit of oomph with the drums that brings it all together.
MM: All fresh stuff. Graeme’s a really good songwriter and I’m more than happy to add to and help shape his ideas. Plus if I came into practise with an old cast-off Andrew ‘Show Me The Rock’ Brodie would probably batter me.
How do you think the Bad Books differ from acts you’ve played in before?
GA: My previous bands have always had a bit more of a serious feel to them. The Bad Books are more fun! I also think that the songs that we have just now are much better than anything I’ve worked with before plus all my previous bands didn’t sound anything like this.
MM: Yeah there’s a healthy sense if fun to this. Though the music’s a bit darker, I think it comes across live that we’re just having fun doing our own thing. The Bad Books are louder than my old band, and this is the first time I’ve played music with men with beards. Plus I think both Graeme and I were keen to play very different stuff from our old bands, so the middle-ground seemed to be loud. I just want to be in a rock band…
What are the key influences that have been brought to the table?
GA: It’s strange because the bands that I love and that have made me want to get into music are ones that I don’t think we sound like – stuff like The Flaming Lips, Super Furry Animals and Grant Lee Buffalo. Each member of the band has different taste in music and think we each put that into our song pot.
MM: I agree. I always think it’s more fun to play off the influences that aren’t your favourite, as anyone can rip off a style they’re really into. So the stuff I bring to the band isn’t really my default, just what fits the tunes, the same as with Come on Gang! I’m aiming for messy, busy guitars – Dinosaur Jr, Television, Pavement, a bit 80s, mainly American indie I guess.
Bloggers turned promoters…… discuss!!!
GA: Ha ha! I can answer that properly after the 23rd. Edinburgh is in serious need of some good promoters though.
MM: Yeah let’s see how sweaty the 23rdgets! Yeah Edinburgh gets a bad rep for not having enough venues but really the problem is a lack of promoters –after yourself, Nick at Sneaky’s and the Limbo guys (there are others of course – Ed), it’s pretty slim pickings.
Can we expect an official release anytime soon?
GA: Yeah! We’d love to have something out by the end of the year so we’re planning to record after the summer and release it in November or December time. A stocking filler for Crimbo.
MM: It’ll be dead festive.
Where do you think the Bad Books will ultimately take you?
GA: Not sure about this one. I’d love to get the chance to play some decent gigs and festivals with the band. I think playing live is what we’re all about. Would also love to get an album together.
MM: An album would be good once we fine tune a few more songs. It’s a nice feeling not being rushed to release anything we’re not happy with. Got a lot of time for bands like eagleowl who would rather do things well than rush them, so we’ll most likely be busy behind the scenes squirreling away.
And so to the music. With thanks to Mike from Manic Pop Thrills who did the original recording, the Tidal Wave of Indifference proudly presents Year of the Cat by the Bad Books, yours to download for free below. It’s from the Sneaky Pete’s gig mentioned above and is a bit rough and ready, but this is the only place you’re going to get to hear the Bad Books before June 23 and potentially some time after.
Enjoy! And do come along to Tidal Wave 3, it would be bloody lovely if you did. You can get tickets HERE.
Download problems? Email thetidalwaveofindifference@gmail.com if this isn’t working. I’ve probably bawsed it up.
